Excessive Rainfall and Tropical Storm in the South; Severe Thunderstorms in the Midwest

Excessive rainfall may produce considerable, potentially life-threatening, flooding across the lower Mississippi River Valley and central Great Lakes region through tonight. Tropical Storm Arthur will move northeastward along the Texas coast today and then move inland over southwestern Louisiana by tonight. An outbreak of severe thunderstorms is expected across portions of Illinois and Indiana. Read More >

An area of low pressure developed in northwest Kansas on Wednesday, May 11, 2005. A warm front extended to the northeast from the low into southern Nebraska. An upper level disturbance along with a strong jet stream moved into the region in the afternoon. The combination of these weather features allowed for very strong thunderstorms to develop in south-central Nebraska.

The first storms developed in the Minden area around 3 pm and the storms quickly spread. One storm developed in northern Webster county to the south of Hastings and began to rotate. The storm continued to move to the northeast into the town of Hastings. A few funnel clouds were reported with this storm, but the main problem was the 2 to 3 inch diameter hail that pounded the community. There was widespread reported of damage to windows, siding, roofs, and vehicles in town. With the storms holding over Adams county from 4 to 7 pm, copious amounts of rain fell. Heavy rains continued into the night from eastern Dawson county York county with many areas picking up over 5 inches of rain. Unofficial reports from the Kenesaw and Wood River areas reported over 11 inches, nearly 10 inches around Grand Island, nearly 9 inches was reported on the around Hastings and 8 inches in the Central City area. Flooding of roads and fields has been reported in these areas.

Access a map of the radar estimate of rainfall during the evening of May 11, 2005, click here

Below are a few pictures of the hail and flooding over the area, (click on any image to enlarge).

	Hastings flooding area is shown. Several cars became stranded in the community.
	Heavy rains in the Hastings area caused flooding of low lying areas and hail up to the size of baseballs also piled up.
	Hail and excess rainwater caused streets to flood in Hastings.
	A view of the underpass near downtown Hastings that filled from the heavy rains and hail that occurred.
	A home near Wood River, NE that was surrounded by flooding caused by rainfalls in excess of 10 inches.
	Flooding in Wood River is shown here. The streets in town quickly filled with water after thunderstorms dropped over 10 inches of rain.
	Another home surrounded by water in the Wood River area.
	Many fields and rural roads became flooded during the evening. We see a vehicle that got stranded in the flood waters in rural Hall county.
	A view of flood waters from the north channel of the Platte River south of Alda, NE.
	Flood waters caused some damage to the roadway and bridge along the north channel of the Platte River south of Alda, NE